Dust-guard.



'Ptented Oct. 2|; I902. I

H. c. McCABTY.

DUST GUARD.

(Application filed Jan. 30, 1902.)

2 Shaats-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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Patented Oct. 2|, I902, v

2 sheaths-n 2,

H. 0. Mc'GARTY.

DUST GUARD.

(Application filed. Jan. so, 1902,)

No. 7u,64|.

(No Model.)

Ha 7r llllllllllllll UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE:

HARRY O. MCCARTY, OF WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

DUST-GUARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 711,641, dated October 21, 1902.

. Application filed January 30, 1902. Serial No. 91,826. (No model.)

1'0 all whom it may concern: l

Be it known that L'HARRY G. MOCARTY, a citizen of the United States, residingin Williamsport, in the county of Lycoming and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dust Guards for J ournal-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to journal-boxes; and it consists, substantially, in the improvements hereinafter particularly described.

Theinvention has reference more especially to guards for preventing access of dust and other objectionable substances to the interior of journal-boxes, the present improvements being specially adapted for use in connection with journal boxes 'for the axles of railwaycars, though applicable to other types. With regard to this particular subjectof inventions it may be stated that many different forms'of dust-guards for journal-boxes have been hitherto devised; but the form most frequently adopted in practice has usually involved "special means for receiving and supporting the guard in position, such means being substantially in the nature of a pocket constructed at the back or inner end of the box, the guard itself beingof suitable form and material and both thegsaid guard and the walls of the pocket being formed with corresponding apertures :for the passageot the journal, the guard fitting the inner portion of the axle in'a manner well known; The special constructionreferred to has certain advantages in use; but such an embodi ment adds considerably to the cost ofmanufacture of the journal-box and'is also objectionable for the reason that dirt and other substances gather or collect in the pocket and cause the material of the guard to harden to such an extent as to abrade or cut into the adjacent surface portion of the axle, as well as to wear away the seating edge of the guard, and which of course is undesirable. Another objection to such construction or embodiment arises from the fact'that in order to insert or seat the guard in place within the pocket the entire journal-box must be removed, which consumes considerable time, besides being laborious and difiicult to perform.

The present invention has forits principal object to overcome the disadvantages and objections pointed out and to provideadustguard for journal-boxes which is simple in construction and effective in operation, and one also which may be inserted in place from the front or outer end of the journal-box Without removal of the latter, and which does not require any special means or contrivance for maintaining the same in position.

The above and additional objects are attained by means substantially such as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a journal-box and dust-guard therefor embodying my improvements, such view being taken on the line w :cof Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a view in detail of the dust-guard removed from the journal-box. 4 Fig. 3is a part front elevation and part transverse sectional view of the journal-box and elements coeperating therewith, parts also being broken away to more clearly indicate the general construction and organization. Fig. 4 is a view substantially similar to Fig. l with the lid or cover of the journal-box removed, said view indicating a slight difierence in the construction of the dust-guard; and Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line A A; Fig. 4.

Before proceeding with a more detailed description it may be stated that in this class of inventions it is desirable that the dust-guard shall be of a material capable of absorbing some of the oil or other lubricant contained in the chamber therefor within the box,whercby the contacting surface areas of the guard and axle may be constantly lubricated to lessen the wear of the guard, and also that the said guard shall possess the quality of flexibility by which to yield or conform to the dips or vertical movements to which the journal is subjected as it revolves Within the boX. Except in the instance hereinbefore mentioned, however, it has been practically impossible to employ a dust=guard possessing these desirable characteristics.

. In the practice of my invention I dispense with the use of special means for receiving and supporting the dust-guard in place and construct the back of the j ournal-box preferably of a single wall having the usual opening therein for the journal, the said journalbox being also constructed with the usual chamber, in the upper part of which is located the bearing for the journal and in the lower part of which is contained a fibrous packing reaching to a suitable height and saturated with some material for lubricating the surfaces of the journal and its bearing. In connection with the journahbox as thus constructed and organized I employ a dustguard which maybe of any desired construction as to form, but which possesses inherent qualities or characteristics which contribute largely to the successful operation thereof in use. In other words, my improved dust-guard is not onlyan absorbent of lubricant and flexible, but is also resilient and possesses the capacity to right itself to position with each righting of the journal to a horizontal following any dipping thereof within the box, and I have discovered that this capacity is alone sufficient to maintain the guard in its operative position without other means, since following each flexure thereof caused by any movement of the journal the same immediately straightens out or returns to its normal position, and thus also is maintained a close contact thereof with that part of the axle which works in the opening therein. In order to provide against any possible displacement of the guard, however, I preferably construct the same of dimensions to [it snugly between the adjacent parts of the inner surfaces of the side walls of the journalbox, and I also utilize the fibrous packing within the box by which to assist in maintaining the guard in close contact with the inner face of the back of the box, said packing being arranged tightly in the box, so as to exert sufiicient pressure against the lower part of the guard for this purpose.

Specific reference being had to the accompanying drawings by the designating char acters marked thereon, l designates the journal-box provided with the usual cover 1 for closing the outer end or front thereof, the back or inner end of said box being constituted of a single wall 1, having therein a circular opening 1, through which extends the journal 2 of axle 2, the part 2 of said axle, as well as the said journal 2", being within the box, the surface of said part 2' forming a bearing for the dust-guard 3, presently to be described. The end of the journal is formed or provided with the usual collar 2, and the journal-bearing 5 is held in position upon the journal by the usual key or similar means, (indicated at 6.) The upper wall of the journal-box may be formed or provided with a seat 1 for the ordinary equalizing-bar, (not shown,) and the lower wall 1 of said box forms the base of a chamber I for a lubri cant, said chamber containing a quantity of fibrous material 4:, reaching substantially to the height shown, and which material is salt uratcd with some suitable substance for lubricating the Working surfaces of the journal and its bearing in the usual manner. I preferably pack said fibrous material in the bot: tom of the lubricating-chamber quite tightly for the purpose hereinafter understood. The dust-guard 3 is constructed with a circular opening (see Fig. 2) the edge or wall 3 of which has its bearing upon the surface portion 2 of the axle 2, as shown, and, as will be observed, the guard is preferably a rectangular body, with the lower end thereof substantially semicircular in form, the width of the guard being such as to bring the vertical edges thereof closely or snugly against adjacent parts of the inner surfaces of the side walls of the journal-box, the guard being thereby prevented from turning with the axle and also being prevented to a large extent from inward displacement upon the shaft. The vertical dimensions of the guard may be such as to bring the lower edge thereof a little short of the inner surface of thelowenwall of the box, as shown in Figs. land 3, orelse the same may be of a height fully equaling the inner height of the back or inner wall of the box, in which case the said lower ed ge thereof may rest upon the inner surfaceof the lower wall of the box, as indicatedat Figs. land 5, for instance. As before stated, it is desirable that the said guard shall beflexibleand possess the capacity to absorb lubricant from the saturated packing 4 to thereby serve to continually lubricate the bearing therefor upon the part 2 of the axle, and it is also desirable that the same shall possess the capacity to straighten out or right itself in position after being flexed by (lips or other movements of the axle and journal in operation. Itherefore construct the guard of a section or lamina 3, of preferably canvas or duck or similar material, and a section or lamina3, of preferably leather-board or the like, the two sections being placed together or in close contact, as shown. The said guard is first inserted in position from the front or outer end of thejournal-box in the manner shownand described, after which the fibrous material 4 is packed sufficiently tightly in the lubricating-chamber to exert a pressure against the lower part of the guard, and in virtue of the described or inherent qualities possessed by the guard it is apparent that the said guard will retain its shape and positionand also effectually operate to exclude dust and other objectionable materials from the interior of the journal-box. In this way abrasion of the surfaces of the journal and its bearingisprevented, and it should be stated that theguard also operates as a valve for preventing escape or outward flow of any of the lubricant contained in the box. The leather-board section of the guard imparts to the latter the capacity to straighten out or right itself in position on removal ofany force or strain tending to flex the same; but it will be understood, of course, that I am not limited in this respect, since the guard may be otherwise constructed and fitted in place and still'come within the scope of my invention.

What claim is- 1. A journal-box comprising a single wall at the inner end thereof formed with a circular opening, and a dust-guard fitting flatly against the inner side of said wall with the vertical edges thereof in contact with adjacent surface portions of the side walls of the box, said guard extending both above and below the edges of said opening, and being integral or undivided throughout the greater dimensions thereof.

2. A journal-box comprising a single wall at the inner end thereof formed with a circular opening, and a dust-guard fitting flatly against the inner side of said wall with the vertical edges thereof in contact with adjacent surface portions of the side walls of the box, said guard being capable of absorbing lubricant and extending both above and below the edges of said opening and being alsointegral or undivided throughout its greater dimensions and having the'inherent capacity to right itself to position from fiexure caused by dipping of the journal in the box.

3. A journal-box comprising a single wall at the inner end thereof formed with a circular opening, said box also having a lubricant chamber containing a packing, and a dustguard supported in position by said packing, and fitting flatly against the inner side of said wall with the vertical edges thereof in contact with adjacent surface portions of the side walls of the box, said guard extending both above and below the edges of said opening and being integral or undivided throughout its greater dimensions and having the inherent capacity to right itself to position from flexure caused by dipping of the journal in the box.

4. A journal-box comprising a single wall at the inner end thereof formed with a circular opening, said box having a lubricantchamber containing a packing, and a resilient dust-guard supported in position by said packing, and fitting flatly against the inner side of said wall with the verticaledges thereof in contact with adjacent surface portions of the side walls of the box, said guard having the capacity of absorbing lubricant and extending both above and below the edges of said opening and being integral or, undivided throughout the greater dimensions thereof.

5. A journal-box comprising a single wall at the inner end thereof formed with a circular opening, said box also having a lubricantchamber containing a packing, and an absorbent resilient dust guard supported in position by said packing and fitting flatly against the inner side of said wall with the 1 vertical edges thereof in contact with-adjacent surface portions of the side walls of the box, said guard extending both above and below the edges of said opening, and being integral or undivided throughout its greater dimensions, substantially as herein shown and described.

HARRY O. MCCARTY. 

